Vehicle steering mechanism



May z2, 1923. 1,455,941

l L .'c. VANDERLIP A VEHICLE STEERING MEcHANIsM Filed Aug. 30 1920 I'NVE'NTOR '15m 6MM Patented May 22, 1923.

saurai LOUIS C. VANDERLIP, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

VEHICLE STEER'NG MECHANISM.

Application tiled August 30,1920. Serial No. 406,931.

a steeringy wheel lock in which the key to the bolt actuating` lock may be withdrawn after the lockingbolt has been moved thereby to either oiE its normal limits. Another object ot my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effective locking device whereby the steering gear of a motor vehicle may be rendered inoperative to unauthorized persons. Av third object of my invention is to provide improved anti-friction bearing means between the steering; wheel and steeringr post. Other objects oit' my invention are mentioned and described herein.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing' in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a steering wheel in fragment. steering post, and other members, to which my invention is applied, in which iiojure the locking' bolt is retracted and the steering' wheel is independently rotatable on the steering' post; Fig. 2 is a view showing the tumbler lock, pinion and other members for actuating the locking'bolt.; Figt is a section taken on the line eti-Fig. 2; Fifi. el is a side elevation view ot the driver huh or collar; Fig. 5 is a view showing the ball bearing sleeve in side elevation and in section; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the shaft for carrying` the rboltactuationpinion; and Figi'. 7 is a iront elevation ot' the same member.

Similar like members throughout on the drawing.

Referring' to the details ot the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the usual hollow cylindrical steeringr column within which the usualy cylindrical. or any type of, steering post 2 is arranged. the latter being' adapted for connection with the steering rfear-not shown-ot the vehicle. as is well known in the particular art.r Numeral indicates a hollow cylindrical driver hub rigidlymountnumerals ot' reference indicate the several viewsr ed upon the top end of the'post 2 to which it may be keyed-by a key 4L to prevent rotative movement thereof on said post. A nut 5 may be screw threaded upon the post 2 above the driver hub 3 to confine the latter against longitudinal movement on or` displacement :trom the post. The hub member 3 may have the radially formed bolt socket 6 intermediate the two circumferential grooves 7 and 8, said grooves' being adapted to serve as ball races or containers, as hereinafter described. f TheA numeral 9 indicates a hollow cylindricall ball bearing' sleeve member encom-` passing;` the hub 3, the bore of said sleeve being slightly larger than the exterior diameter of said hub, said sleeve bore having the two annular endless grooves 10 and 11 formed therein which are. adapted to cooperate with the hub grooves 7 and 8, respectively, to carry the anti-friction balls 12, a plurality of which are mounted in each of said groove units. The sleeve 9 is pro-vided alsowith the bolt aperturel 13 which is adapted to be placed in registration with the bolt socket 6 `formed in the hub 3. Numerals 14 and 15 indicate upright slots formed. respectively, in the hub 3 and sleeve 9 and communicating respec.

tively., with the grooves 7 and 10 to enable the introduction ot a suitable number of the balls 1.2 into said cooperating' grooves. The

numerals 16 and 17 indicate upright slots formed respectively. in the exterior of the huh 3 and the bore of the sleevey v9 and comn'iunicating respectively, with the grooves Sand 11 to enable the introduction ot :i suitable number of the balls 12 into said (grooves, the slot 17 having its upper end in communication with the orifice 13 through which said balls maybe passed when said slots are brought into registration. y

rlhe numeral 18 indicates a steering wheell hub which may be provided with the usual. spider arms 19` 19, said wheel hub being bored to detachablv encompass the sleeve member 9, the upper end of said hub bore beine provided with the annular shoulder portion 20 which lengages the upper end of said sleeve and bv which said wheel may be wholly carried. The numeral 21-indicates a casing proj ecting laterally `from the wheel hub 18 and provided with a radially arranged bolt chamber 22 which is disposed axially ot the sleeve orifice 1.3, the kinner end nov certain', tumbler's-n'ot of said bolt chamber being` in communica-v tion with said sleeve orifice and the outer end thereof being closed bv a plug' 23: locking bolt 24 is slidablv arrangedwvithin the chamber 22 and adapted to' be' alter-y nately moved into and out of engagement with'the hub socket 6 through th'esleeve oriiice 13 to effect a locked or unlocked relation between the whe'el hub 18 and the driver hub ,3. y Normally, when the bolt 24 is retracted trom thehub socket 6, its inner end is'l disposed rwithin lthe sleeve oriiice 13, as indicatedfin Fig. l, whereby the wheel and sleevep)V are lfree to rotate together on the balls 12l around the collar 3 and whereby displacement. Of the wheel hub 18 romfthe sleeve 9 is prevented. Ubviously, the sleeve Q Ijsheld against axial movement relative toA the post v2 by the balls 12 operating` in" theirI respective races, as described.

VDisposed in the casing' 21 and transversely oi the bolt chamber'22` isa tumbler lock 25 f s v-JV. Suitable type, said lock having,` a

`revoliible key barrel 26, as is well known,

which barrel is held against rotation by shown-when the lock keyfnot shownis withdrawn therefrom, as is well Iknown in the art. A pinion shaftv27 be rigidly mounted upon the linner end and axiallyof thekey barrel`26,

being .suitablyy flanged at 28 forV that purpose. A tooth pinion or gear 29 Vis revolubly mounted upon the shaft 27 and convxtined thereon by a nut 80. A lost motion device between't-he shaft 27 and the pinion 29 is effected by anlug' 31, carried on the end ottheypinion 29, and :a lug 32 projecting' from the shaft flange 28, the,` pinion lug4 libeing' arranged in the path of movement ,ofthe 1,119,232 when the .key barrel 26 is rotated by the key controlled and actuated bythe operator.

rA tooth rack 33 may be iformedon the bolt 24: with which rack the pinion 29 is incon'staiit mesh. A spring' 84 may be provided within the chamber'22 to bear against the bolt 21]; toy aid in the ,forward movement thereof. The bolt 2li may be cut away at 35 for a portion oit its length and a hook membere may bev rigidly secured to the bolt within such Acutaway portion.A A stop member may be screw threaded into the casing; 21 transversely ot' the bolt chamber',

, the inner ,end of said stop member projectbol-,t out away portion 35. annularcircumferential groove 37 may be formed in the stop member '36, said -@groovel beine; 'adapted to`be engaged by the point ,of the lio'o/k'BS, whichis rigidly secured to the bolt 24, such engagement being effected when the bolt is, retracted from the socket 6,

whereby removallof saidl stop. member is'I Pfieetfl- In the practical application of inventon ."th'hub 3, the 'sleeve `9 and the bearing balls 12 are assembled, as described, as a unit, the hub 3' of said unit being thereafter keyed to the steering post. rl`hereafter, the wheel hub 18 may readily be mounted 1n ven'compassment el" the sleeve 9 `by removing the stop member and retractinsthe bolt 2e ywholly within the bolt ychamber 22, and thereafter projecting the bolt 24 into the hub socket 6 and vreplacingthe stop member 36. Then a removal oi' the steering wheel is desired, the bolt 24; is first projected into the socket 6 of the hub 8, therealjiter, the stop screw 36 is removed which f enables the ready retraction et the bolt 241; out of both socket 6 and sleeve oriiice 13. In Fig'. 3* of the drawing` the relation oi the lost motion lugs 31 and 82 is illustrated when the bolt 24 is retracted with its point arranged within the sleeve orifice 13, in which position the tumblers or the lock 25 act to restrain the bolt against the action of the spring,- 84C.' y i Also, the position oi' the members as shown in Fie". 3 of the dr'awiirq` enables the re moval of the key :trom the barrel 26 of the may be made in the form, construction and arrangement ofthe parts without departing from the -spirit and scope of the invention o1 sacrificing' any ot its materialadvantages.

l `claim:

1. ln a I'necha-nism of the class described, a shaft; an encompassing member rotatable thereon; means for preventing relative axial movement 'of said encompassing member and shaft; 'a member encompassing said rst mentioned' encompassing` member; and means 'whereby the said second mentioned encompassing' member may be '"releasably locked to saidshaft, said locking means being,` adapted to Vengage said rst mentioned encompassingmember, when released from the shaft, Ifor retaining the vsecond mentioned encompassing member on the first.

2. In a mechanism of the class described,

a post; a driver hub rigidly secured to "the,

post; an encompassing' member rotatable ron said hub; meansl for preventing relative axial movement of said encompassing' member and hub; a member removably encom-r passing.,T lsaid first 'mentioned encompassing lmember; and means whereby the lsecond mentioned encompassing member may be releasably lockedto 1said 'driver hub, said lock- MSU iassine member' and means whereby said t, 7 u

second` mentioned member may be releasably locked to said driver hub, said locking means being adapted to engage the first mentioned encompassing member, when released from the driver hub, for retaining the second mentioned encompassing member on the first.

4. In steering wheel locking mechanism, a steeing post; a driver hub rigid therewith, said driver member having a bolt-engaging -orifice on its perimeter; a sleeve encircling the driver hub, said sleeve having an opening adapted to register with said bolt-engaging orifice in the driver hub; means for preventing relative axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the driver member while permitting said sleeve to rotateA freely with respect thereto; a. removable steering member having a hub adapted to fit over said sleeve; a movable locking device carried by said steering member hub and adapted to be engaged in the opening in said slceve'and the orifice in said driver hub, or in the opening in the sleeve alone, to retain thesteering member on the sleeve;

5. ln a device of the class described, a steering post; a driver hub on said post, said driver hub having an orifice in its perimeter; a sleeve member encompassing said driver hub, said sleeve having an aperture adapted to register with said driver hub orifice; anti-'friction bearing means betrseen said sleeve and driver hub, whereby said sleeve member is freely revoluble upon said driver hub, and whereby axial. movement of said sleeve member relative to said driver hub is prevented; a steering member removably encompassing said sleeve memmember; and means carried b-y the steering rriember and engaging said driver hub orifice through said sleeve member aperture for releasably locking said steering member to said driver hub, said locking means being adapted to engage the sleeve member aperture, when released :trom the driver hub orifice, for retaining said steering member on said sleeve member.

6. lIn a steering wheel locking mechanism, a steering post; a driver hub rigid therewith, said hub member having a bolt-engaging 'orifice in its perimeter; a sleeve encircling said driver hub, said sleeve having ahole adapted to register with said bolt-engaging orifice in the driver hub; means for preventing relative axial movement of the sleeve with respect to the driver hub while permitting said sleeve to rotate freely with respect thereto, said means comprising registering grooves in the outer and inner circumterence of 'the driver hub and sleeve, respectively, and ball bearing elements engaging said grooves a steering member having a hub adapted to removably fit over said sleeve; a movable locking device carried bly-said steering member hub and adapted to be engaged with the opening in the sleeve and orifice in the driver hub, or with the opening in the sleeve alone, to retain the steering member on the sleeve.

7. In steering wheel locking mechanism, a steering post :l a driver hub rigid therewith, said driver hub having` a bolt-engaging orifice in its perimeter; a sleeve encircling the driver hub, said sleeve having` an opening adapted to register with said bolt-engaging l orifice in the driver hub; means for preventing relative axial movement of the sleeve with respect te the driver member while permitting said sleeve to rotate freely with respect thereto; a steering member having a hub adapted to removably fit over said sleeve; movable locking device carried by said steering member hub and adapted to be moved into engagement with the opening in said sleeve and the orilice in said driver hub, or with the opening in the sleeve alone for retaining the steering member on the sleeve; and mea-neto prevent unauthorized shitting of the locking device from either of its positions of engagement.

8. ln a steering wheel locking mechanism, a steering post;` a driver member rigid therewith, said driver member `having a radial bolt-engaging orifice; a steering member having a hnb adapted to encircle Said driver men'iber, there being a bolt gnideway in said hub adapted to register with the bolt-engaging orifice in thedriver member; abolt movable in said guideway, means connected with the driver member adapted to engagerthe end of the bolt to prevent axial movement of the `steering member relative to the driver member while permitting said steering member to revolve freely on said driver member; a movable abutment mounted on the steering member and arranged to prevent the retraction of the bolt beyond the position where it is `adapted to engage said member connected to the driver member, said abutment comprising an overlying ledge; and means on the bolt adapted to engage under said ledge when the bolt is retracted from said boltengaging orifice, and stop it in position to f vtion ot a. steering post having a driver member provided. ,th a radial. bolt-engaging oriice.: a steering member having a hub encircling said driver memben there being)` a bolt guideway in said hub adapted to register with the bolt engaging orifice .in said driver member; a bolt in said guideway y adapted to engage said orifice; means adapted to rotate on said drivermember,and to ber engaged by the end o'l' the bolt after its retraction from said orifice in the driver member; whereby to prevent axial removal of Asaid. steering member; an abutment adapted to limit the retractive movement of the bolt, said abutment comprising a removable pin having an overhanlging ledge; and af member carried on the bolt adapted to engage under said ledge.

10. In a steering wheel lock, steering post carrying a driver member having a radial orifice; a steering member provided with a hub adapted to be sleeved over said driver member, said hub having a bolt guideway; a bolt movable in said guideway; means adapted to rotate on the driver member and to be engaged by the end of the bolt orpreventing axial removal of the steering member While permitting `free rotation thereof on said driver member when said bolt is withdrawn from said oriiice; a movable Jabutment on said steering member adapted to stop the bolt in its retracting movement inposition to engage said means to Jrevent removal of the steering member, saidbolt having a lateral groove adapted to receive the end of the movable abutment; a lip on said bolt, said movable abutment beingprovided with a ledge adapted'to en.- gage over said lip on the bolt whereby the steering member cannot be removed while the bolt is locked to hold the steering member ininoperative position. f

ll. In mechanism of the class described; a steering post; a driver hub mounted on said post; a sleeve member encompassing `said hub and rotatable thereon; means 'for preventing relative axial movement of said sleeve member and hub; a steering member fitted over said sleeve and wholly carried thereby; and means whereby said steering member may be releasably locked to' said driver hub, said looking means being adapted to r.eng ge. the sleeve member; when released Jfrom the ldriver hub, for retaining the steering member on the sleeve member.

12. ln mechanism of the class described, a steering post, a driverhub mounted on said post; a sleeve member arranged around said hubmember; anti-friction bearings support-A ing said sleeve member on said hub to lenable the 4former to rotate `t'reely thereon; said weasel bearings preventing relative axial movement ol said hub and sleeve member; a 'steering member iitted over said sleeve and carried thereby; and v.means whereby said steering.

member may be releasably llocked to saidv driver hub. said locking meansbeing adapt` ed to engage the sleeve member. when yreleased from the driver hub,r for retaining the driver hubn said locking means being adapt i ed to engage the sleeve member; when released `from the driver hub, for retaining the steering member on said sleeve member.

14. In mechanism ot the character described`I a steering post; a driver hub mounted upon said post; a sleeve member arrang around said hub member; a plurality of sets of l anti-'friction bearings supporting said sleeve member on said hub to enable thel former to rotate freely thereon, said bearings preventing relative axial movement of said hub and sleeve member; Asaid anti-friction bearing sets being arranged in 'diilerent planes; a steering member itted over said sleeve; and means whereby the. steering member maybe releasably locked to said hub, said locking means being adapted to engage the sleeve member; when released from said hub; for retaining the steering member on said sleeve member. i

15. ln a device of the class described, a steering post; a driver hubfon said post,

- said driver hub having an orifice in its perimeter; a sleeve member encompassing said driver hub; said sleeve having an aperture adapted to register with said driver hub orifice; anti-friction bearing means between said sleeve and driver hub; whereby said sleeve member is freely revoluble upon said driver hub; and whereby axial movement ot' said sleeve .member relative to said driver hub is prevented; a steering member remov ably encompassing said sleeve member; and means carried by the steering member and engaging said driver hub orifice through said sleeve member aperture for releasably locking said steering member to said drive-rv hub.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto 4affixed my signature this 28th day ,of August,

.LOUIS VANDERMP. 

